Vice President Sara Duterte was in Kuwait on Friday to attend a gathering with Filipino community, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said on Saturday.

"The Vice President visited Kuwait on Friday, where she joined the Filipino community for a gathering to discuss concerns and issues impacting their sector," her office said in a statement.

"As part of the Vice President's mandate to represent and advocate for the welfare of all Filipinos, including those overseas, it is essential that she remains actively engaged with the Filipino migrant communities wherever they may be," the OVP added.

The OVP noted that the Vice President will then proceed to continue working on the release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands for charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings during his administration’s war on drugs.

The OVP also said that these official engagement of the Vice President are conducted in full compliance with existing government rules and regulations, ensuring that her presence abroad is both lawful and aligned with her responsibilities in public service.

It added that "no public funds are used for all her travels overseas."

The OVP further said that it "remains ready to serve and assist our fellow Filipinos both here and abroad, despite limitations in capacity and budget." NEIL ALCOBER